An uplift in mood is clearly evident come spring at the farmers market. And the beauty of cooking and eating along a somewhat seasonal track is the joy that comes from seeing favorites return after a long absence.

Below are a few items you’ll find in abundance now along with recipe links. And if you do live in Marin, check out the Spring Schedule of Local Farmers Markets below.

Click images for recipes

ARTICHOKES

This recipe is straightforward and full of flavor. Artichokes are trimmed, seared and then sit covered to cook for 45 minutes. And although a dip isn’t necessary, here’s a good one to accompany a more simple steamed artichoke.

ASPARAGUS

Go with the fatter spears to avoid them becoming stringy when roasted. This recipe is a great meld of flavors.

My first introduction to artichokes was an unpleasant one. Just after college, I was invited to have dinner with my friend and his parents at their home in a high-end New York suburb. They had the kind of dining room table that is perfect for Thanksgiving but otherwise does not promote intimate conversation. We each had a side on which to hold court.

To start off the meal, we were presented with an artichoke, an unusual budding flower head that was entirely unfamiliar. Certainly New Jersey, my birth place, provides impressive crops of corn on the cob and beefsteak tomatoes, but these? Since 100 percent of all artichokes sold commercially in the United States are grown in California, it’s not a wonder that we had never crossed paths, but still.

What could I do but mouth a plea of “Help…!” to my friend across the expanse of table. He got the hint and I was able to imitate my way through navigating this tricky thistle. It was equally disconcerting when asparagus, another flowering perennial plant species that had not seen its way to my plate before, was served as a side dish. It was a challenging dinner.

Although neither item won me over first time around, both have become favorites, especially considering Castroville, the artichoke capital of the world, is now a not too distant neighbor.

PURCHASING

Artichokes are readily available in spring and fall. Select globes that are deep green and have petals that are tightly closed rather than splayed out and dehydrated looking. They should feel somewhat heavy for their size and will squeak when squeezed.

To store, sprinkle with a little water and refrigerate in an airtight plastic bag. Do no wash before storing. They should last a week.

PREPARATION

With a sharp or serrated knife, slice off the top 1 inch and most of the stem of the artichoke, snap off the small, tough outer leaves and with scissors, snip off thorny tips.

From there, go through the following steps:

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Immediately add to lemon water where they will keep in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days until ready to cook.

Here’s to enjoying them while you’re young!

Pan Roasted Artichokes

INGREDIENTS

3 lemons, quartered

4 medium to large artichokes

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

4 to 6 peeled garlic cloves, crushed

PREPARATION

Fill a large bowl with water and squeeze in the juice from the four quarters of one lemon.

With a sharp or serrated knife, slice off the top 1 inch and most of the stem of the artichokes, pull off the small, tough outer leaves and with scissors, snip off the thorny tips.

Cut in half or quarters lengthwise.

Separate the first few, purple-tinged leaves in the center from the base by pulling them away from the choke with your fingers.

Use a spoon or melon baller to scrape the fuzzy center from the choke. (See slide show above.)

Immediately put artichokes in the lemon water to help avoid discoloration. Keep in the water until ready to cook; they may be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. Just before cooking, spread the artichokes on paper towels, sliced side down, and pat dry.

When ready to cook, heat a large sauté pan over medium-high flame. Warm the olive oil until nearly smoking. Sprinkle the pan generously with salt and pepper.

Carefully place the artichokes sliced side down in the pan. Do not overlap. Season with more salt and pepper and slip the garlic into the spaces between the artichokes.

Cook, shaking the pan occasionally to keep the artichokes from sticking, until they are evenly browned underneath, 6 to 10 minutes. Using tongs, lift 1 or 2 artichokes up to check for doneness.

Add the quarters of the second lemon to the pan, place a piece of foil over the pan and cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 minutes more. Remove the pan from the heat and keep covered for 30 to 45 minutes or if longer, briefly re-heat over low flame.

Transfer the artichokes to a serving platter. Squeeze the juice from the cooked lemon wedges into the pan and whisk to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Pour the juice over the artichokes, garnish with the remaining lemon quarters and serve with Garlic, Basil Dip.

An uplift in mood is clearly evident come spring at the farmers market. And the beauty of cooking and eating along a somewhat seasonal track is the joy that comes from seeing favorites return after a long absence.

Below are a few items you’ll find in abundance now along with links to some favorite recipes. Since the weather is more winter than spring at the moment, it’s a good time for roasting and braising which is not ideal in the warmer months.

If you do live in Marin, check out the Spring Schedule of Local Farmers Markets below.

The Farmers Market is approaching its prime. Tomatoes are showing up and peaches and strawberries are bountiful.

You can find peaches for $2.00/pound during this high season and a flat (6 baskets) of strawberries for $13, making these fruits an inexpensive summer snack. And given that chocolate-based desserts have taken the back-seat to the juicy, colorful, fruit dominant, I suggest getting a bag full … some for now, some for dessert. Continue reading →

Burgers are a summertime staple and have come a long way from the overly cooked patties on a parched white roll that I remember from childhood. We had no turkey, buffalo or elk options. Or lamb or goat which one of my favorite restaurants, Marin Sun Farms in Pt. Reyes, has on their spring menu.

If you’re looking for a crowd pleasing, make-ahead breakfast recipe for your 4th of July festivities, this strata is it. (I’ll post the Sausage Veggie version this weekend.) Egg casseroles can be overly dry or ultra eggy, but these are more like a frittata and are full of flavor.

The lofty, from scratch newcomer, Toasted Almond Ice Cream on Almond Wafers, appears a bit out of place in an ice cream sandwich world that has long been dominated by boxed and packaged varieties in the freezer section. Maybe a bit too fancy for summer? Continue reading →

This is a “compilation recipe” that combines the elements I like in a muffin – no long wait between steps, an ingredient or two that provides a healthy balance (in this case, wheat pastry flour and Greek yogurt) and something to sprinkle on the top that provides some crunch. It comes together really quickly and is doable on a weekend morning. Just start right away with preheating the oven and letting the strawberries macerate.

My friend Nat lived in San Francisco when my daughter was born and I was just over the bridge. Since she was the only person I knew living close by who had a baby, we quickly became allies as we dealt with an identity shift and a new life focus. Continue reading →

Strawberry season has arrived and a great way to jump right in and enjoy them after a long winter hiatus is by buying them in bulk at the farmers market. A half a flat (6 baskets) can be found for $12 which is far below grocery store prices.

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The Real Deal Marin is your source for finding the best in food, whether eating in or dining out. You will find recipes with a clean and simple preparation, restaurants and purveyors that focus on authenticity and reports on efforts to build a better food system.

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